Diébédo Francis Kéré embraces "aesthetic traditions of African cultures" for Swiss chalet

A spa with a bamboo ceiling features in this private residence envisioned by creative director Nachson Mimran in collaboration with Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architect Diébédo Francis Kéré.

Located in Gstaad, Switzerland, the residential complex by the duo aims to bridge connections between Africa and the rest of the world – integrating detailed crafts that draw closely on both Swiss and African design motifs.

Aiming to create a unique home for the owner, Mimran and Kéré collaborated with Swiss architect Chaletbau Matti and interior design studio Muza Lab alongside dozens of artists, architects and designers to fill the home with statement pieces.

"The core concept was to create a dynamic space where African and Swiss design traditions intersect, fostering a dialogue between cultures," Mimran told Dezeen.

"We used modest materials to create a home that really works as a meeting point between cultures: aesthetically, and practically," Kéré added.

"We embraced the rich aesthetic traditions of different African cultures through colour, innovative uses of simple materials and by creating a sense of warmth and comfort."

The complex comprises two neighbouring chalets each topped with pitched roofs that respond to the regional context.

Carved and painted details by Chaletbau Matti decorate the home's exterior as a nod to both traditional Swiss-Alpine facades and African crafts.

At the home's rear, an al-fresco dining area overlooks the expansive scenery and is complete with a custom made dining table by Nifemi Marcus-Bello and colourful, bespoke chairs by designer Yinka Ilori.

Beyond their traditional exteriors, the chalets' interior spaces are elaborately furnished and decorated, including the arrival area and carport, which is adorned by large-scale, colourful murals by artist Esther Mahlangu.

Inside, Mimran and Kéré divided the residences' programmes into three areas responding to the themes of Play, Regenerate and Think.

A spa and indoor-outdoor swimming pool designed by Kéré makes up the home's Regenerate area hosted on the ground floor of the private residence.

Punctured by a skylight, a ceiling composed of 9,964 bamboo tubes crowns the space and, according to Kéré, was arranged into a "wave-like composition" to evoke "the feeling of bathing in a cave".

Below ground, a play-themed area designed by Berlin-based Studio Karhard serves as a shared entertainment space that connects the two chalets.

A fireplace, bar, DJ booth and bowling alley are contained within the space, alongside a playful, thatched enclosure realised by designer Porky Hefer in collaboration with designers Ousmane Mbaye, Doulsy and Ali Mbaye.

The chalets' living spaces are similarly decorated – with a bright, double-height living room complete with an organically-shaped staircase and fireplace by Kéré, alongside a raised mural by artist Rashid Johnson.

Additional details in the Muza Lab-designed interior include a central table by Alexander Lamont and furnishings by Aïssa Dione.

This intricate decor continues throughout the interior, with an additional living space featuring a liquid metal fireplace also designed by Kéré, and a collection of wooden stools by artists Adam Birch, Arthur Mamou-Mani and Madoda Fani.

In the dining room, designer furniture includes a wooden dining table also by Aïssa Dione, which is flanked with chairs by Balla Niang and crowned with a chandelier by Swiss-based designer Ini Archibong.

Crafted elements are showcased through the use of natural materials in one of the chalet's kitchens, where carved walnut cabinets are paired with patterned flooring.

Among the home's statement pieces is a liquid metal staircase, which features a stitched leather handrail.

A living space in the second chalet serves as the complex's Think area.

"For the interior, we used sustainable and modest materials where possible, for example by replacing concrete with rammed earth, straw and hemp," Kéré said.

"Our collaborative approach allowed us to integrate a wide range of artistic expressions, from custom furniture to intricate wood carvings," Mimran added.

The rest of the chalet interiors are similarly embellished with artworks, including the Sentimental Negotiations installation by artist Joël Andrianomearisoa showcased in the private residence's elevator and the Chalet III sculpture by Danish collective Superflex formed from marble in the home's garden.

Other homes recently completed in Switzerland include a timber annexe created for a traditional barn in rural Switzerland and a family home wrapped with exposed concrete walls and full-height glazing in near Basel.

The photography is by Mark Williams unless otherwise stated.

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